Tension erupts after cops dismantle houses near Mizoram border

Tension heightened between Assam and Mizoram after Assam Police personnel dismantled two reconstructed kutcha farm houses at a village near the Mizoram-Hailakandi (Assam) border this afternoon, police said.
Two kutcha farm houses of one Laldawngliana of Buhchangphai village, which were dismantled by Assam Police and Forest officials last Sunday, were voluntarily reconstructed by the Young Mizo Association (YMA) local branch members, they said.
"The construction was completed at around 4 PM today and the volunteers left the farm while the personnel of the first battalion of the India Reserve Police remained in the area for an hour," police said.
The Assam policemen came and dismantled the farm houses after the Mizo policemen left the area in Buhchangphai village, about three kilometres from the farm, they said.

Meanwhile, two platoons of the first battalion IRP were sent to Buhchangphai earlier in the day in connection with the incident.
In fact, state Home Minister R Lalzirliana is scheduled to visit Buhchangphai tomorrow, official sources said.

Two Assam Forest officials, six Assam Armed Police with arms and ten people belonging to the Bru community on April 23 forcibly snatched 50 sawn timbers, one goat and two chickens from the labourers of Laldawngliana of Buhchangphai working in his farm at Ramtharzau, Deputy IGP (Northern Range) Zorammuana told reporters earlier in the day.
A criminal case was registered at the Mizoram-Assam border Vairengte Police Station against those officials and civilians accusing them of committing dacoity inside Mizoram.

Again on Sunday last, 18 Assam Forest officials, eight policemen and six civilians came to the same place, dismantled two kutcha huts of Laldawngliana's labourers - Safiq Uddin and Mandon Sali.
They also damaged irrigation pipes and some crops after before threatening the two families to leave the place within three days.